Sugar Syrup

QATER

2 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups water

1 tsp. ma'ez zahr (orange blossom essence)

1 tsp. Iemon juice

1 tsp. ma'el ward (rose water)

Many Arabic pastries owe their succulence to this sweet, rose water
flavored syrup. It is usually poured while very hot over such pastries
as baqlawa, 'awwamaat (doughnuts), kataif
(stuffed small pancakes), macaroons and kanafeh (cheese
pastry baked in a flat pan and cut in squares).

Dissolve sugar in water and boil rapidly. Remove foam which rises to
top. Add orange blossom water and lemon juice and continue boiling
until syrup resembles thin honey. Add rose water last to preserve its
essence.